If you want a space ingame to try things out and ask questions, part of the reason I run the teahouse is to create a safe space for people like you. Our regulars are very supportive, more than happy to answer questions in whisper channels, etc. I have pretty much a zero-tolerance policy for people who give others a hard time about lore, character design, etc.
We’ve even got a couple of Vulpera who show up fairly regularly, so there’s that as well.
I 100% agree. It might seem counter-intuitive that big public events are good for newcomers, but think of it like this - how many strangers do you talk to in a restaurant, or at Disneyland? But those are also places where you can watch how other people interact.
At the teahouse we’re used to people being quiet sometimes. We’ve even got a “quiet corner” table where pretty much the only direct interaction is Kunbo making sure you’re ready for dessert. 